Many Filipinos could own a BenCab probably only in their dreams. But through a most democratic medium, 999 individuals got their hands on a work of a Filipino National Artist, when Sabel Swatch was launched last week.
“I must have over 200 Swatch watches, with two tall glass display cases to house my collection. But sometimes I find one of them in my eldest son’s room,” said Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski.
I have a long-standing “love affair” with Swedish watch brand Swatch and its Philippine distributor Virgie Ramos—who is and will always be my fairy “watchmother” when it comes to my timepieces and most especially my charity work.
Visual arts mover Annie Sarthou called it serendipity. I happened to be near the place where National Artist (Visual Arts) BenCab was giving the soon-to-open Swatch + Swatch Center a once-over, at the invitation of Virgie Ramos.
Swatch grand dame Virgie Ramos does not do mediocre. There has never been a Swatch event that went by quietly or without any fanfare. With Tita Virgie’s flair for the dramatic, her guests are always delighted by her memorable events.
We knew it would be a special screening, with special popcorn and special gig cooked up by the fave “tita” of local celebs, Swatch’s Virgie Ramos. But we didn’t know that the movie would really be extra special.
When Supertyphoon “Yolanda” struck the country early last month, Gift Gate Inc.’s Virgie Ramos received a phone call from her longtime friend Kunihiko Tsuji, chief operating officer and senior executive vice president of Sanrio Co. Ltd.
The community truly banded together, but this effort is not unique–it’s happening everywhere in the Philippines.
In the blink of an eye, we are now in the “Ber” months! Parties and launches are in full swing this time of the year and Swatch is always the first to come up with exciting affairs.
The moment we heard “Careless Whisper” being sung/screamed— its notes borne by the pre-midnight wind from inside the house to the street where we were getting out of the car—we knew that this would not be a run-of-the-mill event.
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